Brussels, 12/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Presidency of the EU adopted the following declaration on Sudan and the situation in Darfur on Thursday on behalf of the European Union: "The European Union shares the assessment on Sudan, set out in the report of UNSG, as called for in UNSC resolutions 1564 and 1556. The European Union is deeply concerned about the findings of the UNSG on the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation. The European Union joins the UN in welcoming the progress made in the North South peace process and the deployment of the expanded Africa Union force in Darfur. The European Union urges all parties in the Darfur conflict to cooperate fully with the Africa Union to ensure a secure and stable environment. The European Union will continue to provide the African Union with full support for its mission in Darfur. The European Union welcomes the progress achieved at the peace talks in Abuja. The signing of the humanitarian and security protocol is an important step forward in reaching a sustainable solution for the crisis in Darfur. We urge all parties to keep this momentum and to reach a political solution to the conflict in Sudan as a matter of immediate priority. The European Union recognises the need for continued humanitarian assistance and will sustain its contributions in support of those affected by the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. The European Union recalls the European Council of 4 and 5 November and its earlier Council Conclusions, as well as UN Security Council Resolutions 1556 and 1564, and confirms its full commitment to contribute to peace and reconciliation processes in Sudan as a matter of great priority. In this regard, the European Union does not exclude the use of sanctions against all conflict parties".
Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway align themselves with this declaration.